1. Water Resources State Mission guided by the National Water Mission
Undertake an integrated approach for conservation and management of water resources
Improve water use efficiency and control water pollution
Minimize wastage and ensure equitable distribution of water
Address the impacts of climate change on water resources.

2. Water Resources Current Status
Institutional involved in Water Resource service delivery
Current Concerns
Current Policies, Programs and Projects
Likely implications of Climate Change on Water Resources
Strategies and to address Climate Change

3. Water Resources Current Status
More than 95 percent of the surface water and 80 percent of the Ground water is currently being used.
Agriculture is the largest consumer using 75 per cent of the water resources.
The state is highly dependent on monsoons the failure of which leads to severe scarcity of water and droughts
Surface Water-Cauvery is the major river basin, dependent on neighboring states for water supply
Ground Water-80 percent of ground water being used, non-uniform usage; most blocks are over exploited-Chennai
Storage Structures-85 reservoirs, need to create additional storage spaces and better management of existing ones, Water Resource Department attempting to revive them

4. Water Resources
Institutional involved in Water Resource service delivery
Water Resources Department (WRD)-for planning, evolving, executing and maintaining the irrigation facilities and infrastructure of the State.
TWAD (Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board)-for planning, implementation, maintenance, monitoring and surveillance of water schemes
Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board-for augmentation of water supply in the city
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department-for implementation of rural welfare schemes
Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB)-for control, prevention and abatement of pollution in water resources
Educational Institutions-for research in hydrology and water resources management activities

5. Water Resources Current Concerns
Demand Supply Gap-sectoral demand is 2000 MCM more than the potential availability; gap expected to become 11 percent by 2020, 17 percent by 2050
Over Exploitation of Ground water-80 percent of ground water currently in use; of the 385+1blocks
Floods-Copious rainfall in short duration-damage to infrastructure and life
Number of blocks
Usage status
138+1(Chennai)
Over exploited 33
Critical 67
Semi Critical 11
Bad quality

6. Water Resources
Increase in North-East monsoon and decrease in South-West monsoon-N.E monsoon to increase from 34 to 63percent; S.W monsoon to decrease from 48 to 24 percent; need for distribution and diversion of water
Migration-from rural to urban thus increasing competition for water usage
Drought-drought prone state; ICAR states that frequency of droughts in Tamil Nadu would be 1 every 3 years
Low Water use Efficiency-due to lack of awareness

7. Water Resources Current Policies, Programs and Projects
Policies and legislations related to water
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977
The Environment (Protection) Act 1986
National Water Policy, 2002
On-going Programs and Projects
Master plan for artificial recharge
National Action Plan on Climate Change for Cauvery delta
Flood Management Program in Tamil Nadu
Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP)

8. Water Resources
Likely implications of Climate Change on Water Resources
Rainfall projections
Annual rainfall to increase considerably by the end of century
Amount of rain to increase, the number of days of rainfall to decrease
Annual rainfall to increase 7-12mm/day
North East monsoon to increase considerably especially along the coast
Ground water projections
Global warming to cause shifting of shorelines towards inland leading to severe salt water intrusion into ground water
Increased evaporation to effect reservoirs causing increased dependency on ground water

9. Water Resources Strategies Hilly Region
Undertaking rainwater-harvesting measures along the hill slopes, especially in the recharge zones
Constructing check dams, wherever feasible for the creation of water reservoirs for harnessing surface water
Increasing water storage capacity by repairing, renovating and restoring existing water bodies
Coastal Region
Construct and rehabilitate of tail-end regulators to prevent the intrusion of saline water in channels
Install desalination water project in coastal areas to ensure availability of fresh water.

10. Water Resources
Control the volume of groundwater abstraction by strictly enforcing the ground water regulation acts to prevent seawater intrusion
Plains
Increasing the reservoir storage potential of existing irrigation projects in the region.
Exploring the feasibility of transferring water from surplus basin to deficit basin
Limit rampant ground water extraction
Promote rainwater harvesting
Enhance Artificial Recharge in over exploited ground water areas
Improve Water use efficiency in agriculture
Redirect flood waters for groundwater recharge
Create small reservoir schemes such as check dams.

11. Water Resources Research Develop food forecasting system
Assess water demand by sector by factoring in Climate change for short, medium and long term time lines
Undertake mapping of water resources in conjunction with land use and land classification
Policy Related Interventions
Variable Irrigation Water Tax on surface and ground water use
Extend compulsory rain water harvesting regulation in individual houses in all towns and villages
Devise planning, monitoring and decision support systems for an integrated water management system in a climate change context

12. Water Resources
Modernization of Irrigation system using Drips, Sprinklers systems for improving water use efficiency
Introduce pricing regulation for use of piped water for domestic use and drinking water
Undertake periodical census of medium and minor irrigation projects to check sustainability and also to detect disfunctionalities and implement remedial measures